F1 Gossip: Australian GP could be postponed over COVID-19 concerns

In the latest F1 gossip column, possible delay to 2021 season with Australian GP in doubt, Brown says Williams’ new owners will have to spend big for success and Chase Carey bows out from CEO role…

Lewis Larkam

04 Jan 2021

F1 Gossip: Australian GP could be postponed over COVID-19 concerns

- The Australian Grand Prix is likely to be postponed due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, a move which would delay the start of the 2021 Formula 1 season (RaceFans)

- Fashion brand Jack & Jones says it “takes distance” from the behaviour of new Haas F1 driver Nikita Mazepin as its partnership with the American team ended following Kevin Magnussen’s departure (Twitter)

JACK & JONES takes distance from the behavior of upcoming Haas F1 Team driver Nikita Mazepin in the video posted on social media earlier this month. Our partnership with Haas F1 Team was always due to end at the conclusion of the 2020 season. No further comments shall be made.
— JACK & JONES (@JackandJonesTM) December 31, 2020

- McLaren chief Zak Brown believes Williams’ new owners will have to invest “a lot of money” in order for the team to re-emerge as a contender in Formula 1 (Motorsport Week)

- Departing Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey believes the sport is in a stronger place now than when he succeeded Bernie Ecclestone in 2017 but says it is for others to define his legacy (GPFans)

- The government of Catalonia has given the go-ahead for Spanish Grand Prix organisers to agree a contract extension with Formula 1 to host a round during the 2021 season (ESPN, via Reuters)

- Mark Webber believes Lewis Hamilton’s contract negotiations with Mercedes will have been compromised by his absence from the penultimate race of last season and the subseqeunt starring performance of George Russell (At The Controls Podcast)

- Ex-Formula 1 drivers Martin Brundle and Damon Hill have congratulated Hamilton on his knighthood and believe the honour is a fitting reward for the seven-time world champion’s achievements in and out of the car, with Hill praising Hamilton for showing “courage” for standing up and speaking out about racism issues (Sky Sports)

- Hamilton says the Black Lives Matter movement gave him “extra drive” to win his seventh world title and match Michael Schumacher’s all-time record (The Guardian)